title: Minimally invasive options for failing homografts in the pulmonary position.
abstract: Homograft implantation in the pulmonary position is usually part of initial repair in congenital heart defects with dysplasia or atresia of the pulmonary valve and at the time of the Ross operation. As part of reoperations, homografts are mainly required after nonvalved right ventricular outflow tract procedures. Due to an annual increase of homograft dysfunction, replacement is inevitable. Recently, percutaneous catheter-based valve implantations gain increasing acceptance. Even transventricular pulmonary valve implantation has been reported. Prior to decision making for any surgical or interventional therapy, the right ventricular outflow tract morphology together with additional pathologies need to be assessed. With the development of new prostheses and delivery modes, the demand for conventional surgery will further decrease.
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Cardiovascular Surgery, German Heart Center Munich at the Technical University, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schreiber
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hörer
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Eicken
authors.forename: Gernot
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Brockmann
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hess
authors.forename: Rüdiger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lange
keywords: allograft; homograft; pulmonary valve; reoperation